Nani brought a burst of easy charm to The Paradise press meet in Mumbai, but it was his candid shoutout to Shah Rukh Khan’s Baazigar that instantly became the talking point. Speaking about the emotional weight he misses in many mainstream entertainers today, the actor singled out the 1993 SRK thriller as the kind of commercial cinema that stayed with him.
At the event, Nani said, “The Paradise is an extremely intense film. Nowadays, when we see a commercial film, emotions or intensity are presented in a light manner; thoda touch karke aa jaata hai! This is because songs or fights are forced into the narrative and in the process, they don’t explore the emotions. But in our childhood, our favourite commercial films like Baazigar and many others, the emotions were very intense in these films. But in commercial films of today’s times, we don’t feel the essence. Yes, the hero is beating up the villain. But you are not shouting ‘Maaro usse’! You don’t feel the anger or the depth of the situation.”
Nani Explains What The Paradise Is Chasing
Nani then turned to what The Paradise hopes to deliver for audiences. He added, “But The Paradise attempts to catch that intensity. If somebody is in pain on screen, you’ll feel that pain too. If some character is in love, you’ll be able to relate. From the time the film begins, you’ll be transported into its world. You’ll forget your surroundings for 3 hours!”
Directed by Srikanth Odela, The Paradise features Nani alongside Raghav Juyal, Kayadu Lohar, Sonali Kulkarni and Mohan Babu. The film is set for a theatrical release on September 24, 2026.
The Shah Rukh Khan Joke That Landed Instantly
The lighter moment arrived during the media interaction when Raghav Juyal was asked what Nani and Shah Rukh Khan have in common. Before Raghav could respond, Nani jumped in with, “Our measurements!”
He followed it with a story from his Aaha Kalyanam days, recalling what he was told at a photoshoot for the Yash Raj Films production. “I worked in Yash Raj Films’ first South film, Aaha Kalyanam (2014). When I went for the photoshoot, that’s the first thing they have told me, ‘Sir, you have exact measurements as Shah Rukh sir’! I was like, ‘Nice’. I have the exact measurements but not the exact payment (laughs). I wish it was the exact payment as well!”
The joke set the room up perfectly for Raghav, who then offered a warm comparison between the two stars. He said, “Both treat everyone equally on the sets. They are very respectful with every single unit member. They are calm. I love those who have patience. Mere mein bilkul nahin hai. I am too impatient (smiles).”
Nani’s Recent And Upcoming Work
Nani has stayed on a steady big-screen run in recent years with Hi Nanna in 2023, Saripodhaa Sanivaaram in 2024, and HIT: The Third Case in 2025. The Paradise now adds another intense, scale-driven film to that stretch, showing him lean further into emotionally charged storytelling after balancing romance, action and thrillers across his last few releases.
Stay tuned with us for the latest news, Hindi box office news, Hollywood news, OTT news, the latest Bollywood news, and the latest box office news.
